PREFACE. 



While engaged, for the last two winters, at Washington, in preparing the 

 Agricultural Statistics for the Report of the Commissioner of Patents, I be- 

 came acquainted with Charles L. Fleischmann, Esq., one of the Draughtsmen 

 in the Patent Office, distinguished for his versatility of talents, and an accom- 

 plished scholar in the polite arts as well as in science. This gentleman is a 

 native of Bavaria, and was educated at the Royal Agricultural Institution of 

 Schleisheim, then under the charge of Professors Thierl, Schonleutner, and 

 Veit, scientific men and practical agriculturists. Mr. F. took so high a rank 

 in his studies, that he not only gained the first premiums of his class, but was 

 also selected, at the early age of nineteen, to be the Adminstrator or Director 

 of the Estate of Count Joseph Erkinger Von Leinsheim, situated on the 

 Danube, and which comprised not less than twenty-four villages, containing 

 numerous farms, mills, brewery, &/C. In this office of high trust and respon- 

 sibility, Mr. F. remained for eight years, during which time the Estate, which 

 had previously run down, became greatly improved by his management. 

 Shortly after the death of the old Count, he left for the purpose of travel, 

 with letters of high recommendation to Count Lasteyie, President of the 

 Board of Agriculture, and other distinguished men of Science in Paris; and 

 afterwards, led by the love of liberty, came to this country, where he was for 

 some years engaged in business at the West. He has, therefore, had an op- 

 portunity to compare the modes of agriculture practised in different countries. 

 After my acquaintance with him, he frequently expressed a wish that I would 

 translate, for publication, some German Agricultural works, which his own 

 comparatively limited knowledge of the English language prevented him 

 from doing. His letter to myself, which I have taken the liberty to subjoin, 

 will explain his views on this subject, and his appreciation of the work now 

 presented to the agriculturists of our country : 



" Washington, March, 1843. 

 " Dear Sir,^ 



"The interest which I feel for the promotion of Agricultural knowledge, 

 induces me to make you a proposition by which you could render the agricul- 

 tural community a very important service — I mean by translating that part of 

 Burger's Manual on Land-wirthschaft, which relates to the doctrine of the 

 Household or the Economy of Farming. 



*' I have not seen any French, Italian or English works on Agriculture, 

 which contain the important information to which I allude. In perusing this 

 work you will find it not only highly interesting for the matter, but you will 

 also be pleased with its systematic arrangement, and to see how it leads, step 

 by step, to the ultimate result — to obtain the highest and lasting profit from 

 agriculture. 



" Burger himself is a gentleman of education and a practical farmer ; he 

 has filled the Chair of Professor of Agriculture for so many years, his exten- 

 sive correspondence, his journeys in all parts of Europe for the purpose of 



